Fire extinguisher support



J. H. ROBILLARD 2,965,890

FIRE EXTINGUISHER SUPPORT Dec. 20, 1960 Filed Oct. 5, 1956 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 #:r INVENTOR JOHN H. ROB/LLARD BY Ijq/LLJQQ/Q ATTORNEY Dec. 20, 1960 J. H. ROBILLARD FIRE EXTINGUISHER' SUPPORT 4 Sheets$heet 2 Filed Oct. 5, 1956 .R Y m M m m I o 5 n m M r w w mmh mu m Dec. 20, 1960 J. H. ROBILLARD FIRE EXTINGUISHER SUPPORT 4 Sheets$heet 3 Filed Oct. 3, 1956 9 6 v m 83 2 2 w w 0 r w w 4 m v L m 4 9 r\. m fi m 7 8 3 M 5 a w 0 4 4 L- J 0U Q.- \U 0 M an 4m 2 0 0 4 f 4 m 0 1 0 Mo e r LU w I. m w 1% C T v 4% 4. 2 w l I II Ill m L m 4 mm J 0 J u 4 5w 1 4 w L mJ INVENTOR JOHN H. ROB/LLARD M :1

BY M

ATTORNEY Dec. 20, 1960 J. H. ROBILLARD 2,965,890

FIRE EXTINGUISHER SUPPORT Filed Oct. 5, 1956 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR JOHN H. ROB/LLARD ATTORNEY United rates Patent FIRE EXTINGUISHER SUPPORT John Henry Robillard, 320 Seymour St., Ogdensburg, N.Y.

Filed Oct. 3, 1956, Ser. No. 613,764

6 Claims. (Cl. 340-280) This invention is an apparatus designed to support a portable fire extinguisher vessel in, a manner such that it is readily available for volunteer use in case of emergency, and includes means for automatically rendering the supporting apparatus inoperative to again support a fire extinguisher vessel after the fire extinguisher vessel normally supported thereby is removed therefrom, until the apparatus has been restored to operative condition by a person authorized to do so.

It frequently happens in connection with the use of portable fire extinguishers that they are replaced in the supporting facilities provided therefor after they have been used and before they are refilled. This creates an additional fire hazard by having an empty or a partially. expended fire extinguisher mounted in its accustomed place and to all outward appearancebeing ready for use upon the occurrence of another fire. The present invention has for its object the provision of means whereby this situation may be avoided by providing a supporting apparatus of the character described and comprising vessel supporting means including a movably mounted shelf or hook member, togetherwith means by which the. vessel supporting means is automatically rendered inoperative in response to the removal therefrom of the portable fire extinguisher vessel that is normally supported thereby.

Another object of the invention is to releasably lock the vessel supporting means in an inoperative position after movement thereof to such position in response to re.- moval of the fire extinguisher vessel therefrom.

Another object of the invention is. to provide in a sup porting apparatus of the character described, means which. is under the control or supervision of a person in authority, and by which the movable vessel supporting means may be restored to operative position or may be released from inoperative position for again supporting a fire extinguisher vessel.

Another object of. the invention is to provide auxiliary means for releasably securing a portable fire extinguisher vessel upon or within a supporting apparatus of the character described, in a manner to preclude its falling therefrom due to vibrations of the member to which the sup porting apparatus may be attached.

Another object of the invention is to provide, inv connection with a supporting apparatus of the character described, alarm or signal means which will be energized when the supporting device assumes an inoperative position following the removal of the fire extinguisher therefrom, and said signal means will remain so energized. until restored to normal condition by one. authorized to do so.

Another object ofthe invention is to provide. means for .supporting a partially exhausted or empty fire-ex.v

tinguisher in a manner which will readily indicate that it has been used and should be reserviced.

Anothenobjectof the invention is to. include in a supporting apparatus. of the character described a part movable-.into a position normally occupied by a fire extinguish--- er vessel. supported on said apparatus, in; responseto the;

removal of a fire extinguisher vessel from the apparatus.

These and other objects of the invention will become apparent from the following specification read in the light of the accompanying drawing wherein preferred forms of the invention are illustrated and wherein:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of one form of the invention showing a portable fire extinguisher supported thereon;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the invention shown in Fig. 1 with the shelf disposed in inoperative position;

Fig. 3 is a front elevation of "the invention shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a detailed sectional view of the locking means for the arm which retains the shelf in inoperative. position;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view takenon the line 5-5 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the manner in which the alarm circuit may be arranged;

Fig. 7 is a detail sectional view of the latch releasing P Fig. 8 is a side elevation of a modified form of my invention, wherein a pivotally mounted hook member is employed;

Fig. 9 is an enlarged fragment'al detail view of the hook shown in Fig. 8 and the biased mounting thereof;

Fig. 10 is a fragmental detail view of the bifurcated hook member of Fig. 8 and the locking bar therefor;

Fig. 11 is a side elevation of a further modification employing a pivoted shelf;

Fig. 12 is a rear fragmental detail view of the modification of Fig. 1.1;

Fig. 13 is a side elevation of a further modification ern'-; ploying a pivoted hook without a locking bar;

Fig. 14 is a side elevation of av further modification em.-- ploying, a pivoted shelf member, together with pivoted vessel clamping members;

Fig. 15 is a rear view of the modification shown in Fig. 14;

Fig. 16 is a sectional view taken on line 16-16 of Fig. 14;

Fig. 17 is a fragmental detail view of the spring means for operating the clamping members of Fig. 16;

Fig. 18 is a rear fragmental detail view of the modi-- fication shown in Fig. 16, showing the parts in inoperative position;

Fig. 19 is a side elevation of a. further modification employing a slidably mounted shelf member;

Fig. 20 is a fragmental front view looking in thexdirection of arrow 20 of Fig. 19;

Fig. 21 is a sectional view taken on line 21--21 of. Fig. 22;

Fig. 22 is a. sectional view taken on line 2222 of. Fig. 19.

Referring more particularly to the drawings wherein: like reference numerals designate like parts throughout, the invention is shown as comprising a base member or. bracket 1 designed to be secured to a wall, a post, column or similar substantially vertical support. The bracket 1. is provided with offset terminal portions 2-2 by which. the bracket may be secured to a supporting structurexand. for this purpose the portions 2--2 may be provided with. one or more apertures 3 through which securingscrews or: bolts may be passed.

The support or bracket 1 may be provided near its I ceive a pivot pin 5. Pivotally mounted upon the pivot.

pin 5 is a shelf member 6, said shelf member carrying? ears or lugs 7, the latter being. provided with aligned apertures to receive thepivot pin 5 as shown. in? Fig; 5;. The shelfmember 6 is shown generally circular. iniforrm but this is optional and. the shelf. maybe made in any d'e sired. configuration to conform to the 'fire extinguisharirk receptacle adapted to be supported thereon. Preferably, the shelf 6 may include an upstanding wall or guard 8 designed to prevent the receptacle supported on the shelf from slipping off, due to vibrations of the supporting structure, such as might occur on shipboard. Desirably, the front portion of the shelf 6 and guard 8 may be cut away as shown at 9 to expose a portion 10 of the bottom of a vessel supported on the shelf to thereby facilitate in the placement and removal of the receptacle on the shelf. As shown in Fig. 1, a conventional portable fire extinguisher vessel 11 may be mounted on the shelf 6 and the loop handle 12 carried thereby near the upper extremity thereof, in a well-known manner, may be interconnected with a hook member 13 carried near the free end 14 of an arm 15 pivotally mounted on the support 1 at a point intermediate the ends of the support. Preferably the support 1 may be provided with a pair of rearwardly extending ears or lugs 16, the latter being provided with aligned apertures to receive a pivot pin 17 by which the arm 15 is pivotally secured to the bracket 1. As shown in Fig. 3, the bracket 1 is provided with a centrally disposed elongated slot 18 through which a disclike portion 19 on the arm 15 may pass, it being noted that the ears or lugs 16 are disposed on opposite sides of the slot 18. By this arrangement, the arm 15 may extend forwardly through the slot 18 for movement about the pivot 17 in a manner clearly illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawing. The arm 15 is provided with a biasing spring 20 which may be wrapped around the pivot pin 17 and tensioned with its free end bearing on the arm 15 near the outer end thereof, the tension of the spring 20 being arranged to create a bias upon the arm 15 tending to move the arm in a counterclockwise direction about the pivot 17. Latch means are provided for retaining the arm 15 in the position shown in Fig. 1 against the force of the biasing spring 20, said latch means comprising a pivoted latch arm 21, pivoted to the bracket 1 on the rear face thereof and near the lower end thereof by means of a pair of spaced ears 22 and a pivot pin 23. The latch arm 21 carries at its outer free extremity a hook portion 24 designed to engage within a notch 25 provided in the periphery of the disc-like portion 19 of the arm 15. Thus, as shown in Fig. 1, the arm 15 may be raised to the position shown and the hook portion 24 of the latch 21 engaged within the notch 25 of the disc 19 to retain the arm 15 in its elevated position against the force of the biasing spring 20.

The shelf 6 is also provided with biasing means in the form of a-spring 26 wrapped around the pivot pin and having its opposite ends anchored to create a bias on the shelf 6, tending to move the shelf in a clockwise direction to an inoperative position such as shown in Fig. 2. Thus, when it is desired to place a fire extinguisher receptacle such as 11 upon the shelf 6, the arm 15 is first latched in its upper position as shown in Fig. l and the shelf 6 then moved to the horizontal position against the force of the bias spring 26 as shown in Fig. 1 and While the shelf is held in this position, a receptacle 11 is placed thereon and while so doing the loop handle 12 is placed in engagement with the hook 13 of arm 15 as shown in Fig. 1. Under these conditions the weight of the receptacle 11 and its contents will maintain the shelf 6 in a substantially horizontal position against the force of the biasing spring 26, there being provided on the bracket 1 a stop member 27 for engaging and arresting the shelf 6 in a substantially horizontal position.

- Means are provided for automatically releasing the latch member 21 from latching engagement with the disc 19 when the receptacle 11 is removed from the shelf 6 and the latter, under the influence of the biasing spring 26, moves to a substantially vertical position as shown in Fig. 2. Such means includes a latch releasing pin 28 mounted for transverse reciprocation within an aperture.29 provided in the bracket 1 near the lower portion thereof. The pin 28 as shown extends completely through the bracket 1 and is of a length to project beyond both the inner and outer faces of the bracket 1. If desired, a light coil spring 30 may be associated with the pin 28 and disposed thereon between the front face of the bracket 1 and the inner face of a head 31 carried by the forward end of the pin 28. The inner end of the pin 28 terminates adjacent to the latch arm 21 when the latter is in latched position and a cotter pin 32 or any other like stop means may be provided for normally retaining the pin in a forward position within the aperture 29. It will be understood that the pin is mounted for free sliding movement through its mounting aperture 29 in the bracket 1. If desired, a guard collar 34 may surround the forwardly projecting end of the pin 28 to prevent accidental operation thereof during the act of placing a portable extinguisher such as 11 on the shelf 6. The shelf 6 adjacent the pivot pin 5 thereof carries an upstanding lug 33 which is positioned to engage the forwardly projecting end of the pin 28 when the shelf 6 moves to its vertical or inoperative position under the influence of its bias as shown in Fig. 2. At such time, the lug 33 will forcibly engage the head 31 of the pin 28 and move the pin 28 rearwardly so that the rear extremity of the pin 28 will engage the latch bar 21 and forcibly remove the hook 24 thereof from engagement with the latching notch 25 of the disc 19. The sequence of movement of the parts following removal of a container such as 11 from the shelf 6 is substantially as follows: When the weight of the receptacle 11 is removed from the shelf 6, the latter swings about its pivot under the influence of the spring 26 and assumes a position such as shown in Fig. 2. In so doing, the lug 33 of the shelf 6 engages the pin 28 to release the latch arm 21 whereupon the arm 15 under the infiuence of its biasing spring 20 swings in a counterclockwise direction about its pivot 17 to a position such as shown in Fig. 2, in which position the arm 15 engages the upstanding shelf 6 and, if desired, a notch (not shown) may be provided in said arm to receive the edge portion of the upstanding shelf 6 to retain the shelf in such position.

As previously stated, the invention provides means for locking the shelf in inoperative position following removal of a receptacle such as 11 from the shaft. To this end, the disc 19 is provided with an aperture or recess 35 which, when the arm 15 moves from the position shown in Fig. 1 to the position shown in Fig. 2, registers with a spring projected locking pin 36 shown more particularly in detail in Fig. 4. The pin 36 is mounted within a rearwardly extending lug 37 carried by the main bracket, said lug carrying a guide sleeve or housing 38, the latter being positioned to dispose the pin 36 for operation on an axis substantially parallel to the axis of the pivot pin 17. The guide sleeve 38 is provided at its forward end with a closure plate 39 having a centrally disposed aperture through which the pin 36 projects. Spring means are associated with the pin 36 to selectively project or retract the pin 36 with respect to the closure plate 39 when desired. To this end, the pin 36 carries intermediate its ends an abutment in the form of a collar 40 and on either side of said collar 40 are coil springs 41 and 42 through which the pin 36 passes. The retracting coil spring 41 lies between the collar 40 and the inner face of the closure plate 39. The projecting spring 42 lies between the collar 40 and a screw-threaded abutment member 43, the latter being screw-threadedly engaged with an internally screwthreaded collar 44 secured within the guide sleeve 38 intermediate its ends. The screw-threaded abutment member 43 engages the spring 42 at its inner end which is recessed at 45 to receive the adjacent end 46 of the pin 36. The outer end of the abutment 43 is provided with a specially formed key-receiving terminal portion 47 accessible through the open end of the guide sleeve 38. Normally the abutment 43 is adjusted within the threaded collar 44 to a position to create sufficient compression on the coil spring 42 to overcome the force of spring 41, thus to project the pin 36 through the openeaseing, in closure plate 39. and into engagement with the adjacent face of the disc 19. Thus when the arm 15 moves from the, position shown in Fig. 1 to the position shown in, Fig. 2 the aperture or recess, 35 moves into alignment with the pin 36 as previously described, said pin enters said recess or aperture 35 and thus secures the arm 15 in the position shown in Fig. 2. Inthis position of the parts, the shelf 6 is securely locked in its inoperative position since the arm 15 cannot be raised torelease the shelf for movement to anoperative position. This precludes an unauthorized person replacing on the shelf 6 an expended or partially exhausted fire extinguisherv receptacle. However, means are provided with the apparatus in this position, to support an exhausted or partially exhausted vessel since the arm 15 vat its free extremity carriesa hook member 48 designed to receive and support an exhausted receptacle by the bail or handle portion 12 as shown in, dotted lines in Fig. 2.

i The apparatus, is designed. to be. restored to operative position by someone in authority who is provided with means for releasing the locking pin 36. To this end, key means, such as a specially formed socket wrench 49 may be provided for insertion within the open end of the guide sleeve 38. and into engagement with the end "47 of the adjustable abutment 43 so that the latter may be adjusted longitudinally within the collar 44 to relieve compression on spring 42 to an extent such that spring 41 becomes effective due to its engagement with the collar 38 to retract the pin 36' from within, the recess or aperture 35 of the disc 19. When the pin 36 is, thus retracted the disc 19 is, released, and the arm 15 may be raised against the force of'itsbiasing spring 20 to the position shown inFig. 1 at which time the latch arm 21 may be moved tobring the hook 24 thereof into latching engagement with the notch 25, of the disc 19, as previously described. When the partsare restored to this position, a refilled or reserviced extinguisher. receptacle such as 11 may be replaced upon the, shelf 6 which the bail 12 of the receptacle engaged with the hook 13 of the arm 15.

As an additional safety feature in connection with my improved fire extinguisher support, I provide signal and alarm means which are designed to be automatically energized at the time the arm 15 moves into shelf-latching position as shown in Fig. 2,, following removal of an extinguisher receptacle from the shelf 6. To this end I provide a signal lamp 50 mounted in any convenient place, such as on the rear face of the bracket 1 by any suitable means such as by L-shaped bracket 51 secured to the inner face of the bracket 1. The bracket 51 may also support a push button type switch 52 of conventional design, said switch being normally biased to open position and moved into closed position when a cam 53 carried by the periphery of the disc 19 engages an actuating button 54 of the-switch when the disc moves into the position shown in Fig. 2. The signal light 50 is preferably a red light and if'desired there may be associated with the same a conventional flash element 55 so that when the light 50 is energized, it will give a flashing red signal to attract attention to the area in which a fire extinguisher receptacle has been removed for use. Thus, if the bracket 1, for instance, is mounted in a long corridor or hallway, the flashing redsignal 50 following removal of the receptacle from the shelf 6 will indicate to one looking downthe corridor the general location of the fire which has occasioned the removal of the fire extinguisher. Also, if desired,

there'may be associated'with the flashing signal 50 an' audible. alarm devicein the natureof an electric bell dcsired, an auxiliary hand operated switch 59'may be connected in circuit with the audible alarm 56:50 this alarm may. be silenced if and whendesired. The flashing light 50 will remain energized and operative until the arm 15 has been restored to its upper position at which time the cam member 53 has moved out of engagement with the push button 54. The switch 52 may be of any conventional construction such as the well-known micro switches which are normally biased to open position.

It will be understood that the hook members 13 and 48 I have described in connection with the apparatus shown in Fig. 1, are designed particularly for use with a fire extinguisher receptacle having a loop-type handle but these books may be replaced by any other type of holder, when necessary to cooperate with a fire extinguisher vessel having another type of handle, such as is common with CO extinguishers, or pump type extinguishers. Furthermore, although I have shown the signal light 50 and thealarm 56 mounted on the bracket 1, this is for convenience only and so long as the switch 52 is operatively positioned with respect to the disc 19 and cam 53, the signal and alarm may be mounted in any desired location.

It will be noted that by designing the support member as shown, with the central portion thereof upset with respect to the terminal portions thereof, space is provided between. the support member and the surface to which it is attached, to receive the signal and alarm devices, the latch member and the disc and mounting portions of the arm. This makes for a very compact structure. j

It will be noted that the free extremity of the arm 15, when in the position shown in Fig. 2 lies within the space normally occupied by the fire extinguisher vessel when the latter is in position as shown in Fig. 1. This insures that an exhausted fire extinguisher vessel cannot be replaced innormal position in my apparatus before the apparatus, has been reconditionedby one authorized to do so.

In Figures 1 to 7 the fire extinguisher vessel supporting means includes a pivotally mounted shelf member for supporting the fire extinguisher vessel, but my invention is also adapted for use in connection with a pivotally mounted support in the form of a hook. Thus in Fig. 8 I show a wall bracket member 101 similar to that shown at 1 in Fig. 1. The bracket 101 is provided with a hook member 102 pivotally mounted thereon by a horizontal pivot pin 103 carried in lugs 104 secured to the front face of the bracket 101, in a position substantially parallel to the plane of the bracket 101. The hook member 102 may be supportedin a substantially horizontal operative position by a stop member 105 carried by the bracket 101 as shown.

The vessel-supporting outer end of the hook 102 is bifurcated as shown at 106 for a purpose to be herein after explained and a loop handle 107 carried by the fire extinguisher vessel 108 is designedto be engaged therewith. A forked bracket arm or clamp 109 preferably resilient may be securedto the bracket 101 below the. hook 102 to receive the body of the fire extinguisher vessel 108 and assist in retaining the same in substantially vertical position and stabilized against swinging movement on said hook.

Immediately above the hook 102 there is slidably mounted in the bracket, a pin 110 which passes through an aperture provided therein. The pin 110 extends forwardly of and rearwardly ofv the plane of the bracket as shown. The forward end portion 111 of the pin 110 is positioned to be engaged by 'the hook .102 when the latter.

swings upwardly underthe influence of a biasing spring 112 wound about the pin 103 and having its opposite ends anchored under torsional strain in the pin 103 and the supporting lug 104, respectively. The'inner end 1130f the pin 110 is positioned to engage ashoulder 114 formed on a pawl member 115-pivotally mounted on the rear:

face of the bracket 101 as shown. The pawl member 115 may be biased to swing in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 8 by a torsional spring (not shown) wound under tension about the pivot pin 116 in a wellknown manner. The free end of the pawl member 115 carries a hook 117 which is designed to engage a notch 118 formed in the periphery of a disc member 119 pivotally mounted in lugs 120 carried by the rear face of the bracket 101. The bracket 101 between the lugs 120 is provided with a slot 121 through which an arm 122 carried by said disc 119 extends, as shown. The disc 119 and arm 122 may be biased to turn in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 8 under the influence of a properly tensioned spring member 123.

It will be understood that in operative position of the parts as shown in full lines in Fig. 8, a fire extinguisher vessel 108 is supported by its loop handle 107, on the hook 102, said hook resting on the lug or stop 105. The arm 122 is raised and secured in raised position against the bias of the spring 123 by engagement of the hook 117 with the notch 118. When the fire extinguisher vessel 108 is removed from the hook 102, the latter swings upwardly under the influence of the spring 112 and strikes the forward end 111 of pin 110 to shift the same rearwardly, thus releasing pawl 115 from its notch 118. The arm 122 then swings downwardly in a counterclockwise direction to the dotted line position shown in Fig. 8 and in so doing falls within the bifurcation of the hook 102 as shown in Fig. 10.

Means are provided for locking the arm 122 in such position, and thus the disc 119 is provided with an aperture 124, which when the disc is released by the pawl 115, moves into register with the spring projected pin of the locking device 125, the latter being similar in all respects to the locking device indicated at 38 in Fig. 4. The diso 119 may carry a cam 126 positioned to actuate the switch and signal device 127 when the arm 122 moves to dotted line position, as previously described in connection with the disc 19 of the modification shown in Figs. 1 to 7. As an additional precaution against replacing an exhausted or partially exhausted fire extinguisher vessel in my supporting apparatus after the fire extinguisher vessel normally supported thereon has been removed, I provide the outer end of the arm 122 with an expanded portion such as shown at 127a and dimension the arm 122 in length so that said expanded portion 127a will fall within the space normally occupied by the fire extinguisher vessel when supported on the hook 102.

In Figs. 11 and 12, I show a modified form of my invention in which a different type of pivoted shelf is utilized as the supporting instrumentality for the fire extinguisher vessel. In this form of the invention a supporting bracket 201 is employed, which is similar to the bracket 1 of Figs. 1 to 10. The bracket 201 is provided with an aperture 202 near the lower end thereof, and an aperture 203 near the upper end thereof. The aperture 202 is designed to receive and rotatably support a shaft or spindle 204 carried by a shelf 205 on which a fire extinguisher vessel may be supported. The rear face of the bracket 201 carries a bearing or journal member 206 to provide additional support for the shelf spindle 204, and may be secured to the bracket as by welding shown at 207. The shelf spindle 204 may be provided with suitable collars 208 to maintain the shelf in proper position Within the bearing 206. The rear end of the shelf spindle 204 carries a disc 209 which is secured thereto for rotation therewith. On the spindle 204 between the disc 209 and the opposed end of the bearing 206 is a coil spring 210, the opposite ends of which are anchored under torsional stress in the disc 209 and the bearing 206. The spring 210 is designed to rotate the shelf spindle in a clockwise direction as viewed from the left in Fig. 11 and a suitable stop member 211 carried by the front collar 208 is arranged to engage lugs 212 carried by the bracket 201 adjacent thereto to define the horizontal vessel supporting position of the shelf 205 (full lines) and the vertical or inoperative position of the shelf (dotdash lines). When no fire extinguisher vessel is supported on the shelf 205, the shelf assumes and retains an inoperative position under the influence of the biasing spring 210.

The aperture 203 is designed to receive and rotatably support a shaft or spindle 213 carried by an auxiliary support or clamp 214. The bracket 201 carries on its rear face adjacent said aperture 203 a bearing or journal member 215 and the rear end of clamp spindle shaft 213 carries a disc 216 which is secured thereto and rotates therewith. Spacing and positioning collars 217 are carried by the spindle shaft 213, and a torsional biasing spring 218 encircles the shaft 213, and the opposite ends thereof are anchored between the bearing 215 and the disc 216 in a manner to urge the clamp 214 to rotate in a clockwise direction when viewed from the left in Fig. 11. Stop means 219 and 220 limit the horizontal and vertical positions of the clamp member 214. In order to synchronize the movement of the clamp 214 and the shelf 205, the discs 216 and 209 are connected by a link member 221, the opposite ends of which are pivotally connected to said discs at points eccentric to the pivotal axes thereof as shown in Fig. 12. Thus when the shelf 205 is moved from its normal vertical inoperative position as shown in dot-dash lines, in a counterclockwise direction against the force of the biasing spring 210 to a horizontal operative position as shown in full lines, the clamp member 214 is moved to a corresponding position and a fire extinguisher vessel 222 may be placed on the shelf 205 and engaged within the clamp 214. The pressure and weight of the vessel 222 will retain the parts in the position shown in Fig. 11, but upon the removal of the fire extinguisher vessel from the apparatus, the shelf and clamp under the influence of the biasing springs 210 and 218 will move to vertical inoperative positions shown in dotted lines, being arrested in such positions by stop members 211-212 and 219-220, respectively.

Locking means 223 similar in all respects to that shown at 38 in Fig. 4, may be employed to releasably secure the parts automatically in an inoperative position, in response to removal of a fire extinguisher vessel from the apparatus, and to this end the disc 216 may be provided with a recess 224 within which the spring projected pin 225 of the locking device 223 may engage when in register.

The disc 209 on the shelf spindle 204 may carry a cam 225a to actuate a switch and signal device 226 suitably mounted on the bracket 201 as shown, in a manner clearly described in connection with the modification of my invention in Fig. 1. In the form of the invention shown in Figs. 11 and 12, it will be noted that no auxiliary movable member such as the arm 15 of Fig. 1 and the arm 122 of Fig. 8, is required for locking the vessel supporting member in inoperative position, since the locking instrumentalities in the modification of Figs. 11 and 12 engage a movable part of the vessel supporting member.

In Fig. 13 is shown a further modification of my invention in which a pivotally-mounted vessel-supporting member in the form of a hook is employed. The supporting member 301 is slotted at 302 to receive for pivotal movement a hook member 303 mounted on a pivot pin 304, supported in lugs 305 carried on the rear face of the bracket 301. A biasing spring (not shown) may be operatively associated with the hook member 303 and its mounting means, and arranged to urge the hook member to rotate in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 13, so that said hook member normally occupies an inoperative position as shown in dot-dash lines. The hook member 303 is provided with a vessel supporting hook portion 306, on which a fire extinguisher vessel 307 may be supported. A lug or stop member 308 carried by the under face of the offset portion 309 of the bracket 301 is positioned to engage the rear portion of the hook member when the latter is vessel supporting position, to retain the hook member in operative position, 'A clamp or bracket member 310 is supported bybracket 301 in position to engage the lower extremity of t he fire extinguisher vessel 307 and thus secure it against swaying movement. It will be understood that theweight of the fire extinguisher vessel on thehook member 303 retains the hook member in position shown in fulllines in Fig. 13 but that when the first extinguisher vessel is removed from the apparatus, the hook member, moves under the influence of its biasing spring to the inoperative position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 13. The hook member 303 may be provided with a recess 310 positioned for registration with the spring projected pin of the locking device 311, carried by the bracket as shown, said locking device being similar in all respects to that shown at 38 in Fig. 4.

A conventional switch and signal device 312 may be carried by the bracket for actuation by a cam 313 car ried by the rear portion of the hook member 303, 'asshown, this arrangement being similar in all respects to that shown and described in connection with the modification of Fig. 1. t

The forms of the invention shown in Figs. 1 through 13 employ avessel supporting member including a pivoted element as the supporting instrumentality for the fire extinguisher vessel, together with means for raising it from an operative horizontal position to an inoperative substantially vertical position when the fire extinguisher vessel is removed. In Figs. 14 through 18 I show another form of my invention in which a pivotedly mounted:

shelf drops from a substantially horizontal operativeposition to a substantially vertical inoperative position;

following removal of the fire extinguisher vessel therefrom. Thus in Fig. 14 the mounting bracket. is shown at 401 and in side elevation is contoured similarly to the bracket 1 of Fig. l.

vided a pair of shelf'mo-unting lugs 403, which are apen tured to rotatably support a pivot pin 404.

' A shelfmember 405 carries a pair of supporting arms 406 which extend rearwardly through the slot 402 and are connected to the pivot pin 404 as shown. The pivot; pin 404 may carry spacing collars-407 to cooperate with;

the lugs 403 as shown, to maintain said pin 404-centered with respect tto said lugs and thus maintain the shelf arms 406 centered within the slots 402. If desired one or more torsion springs 408 may be mounted on the,

pin 404, said springs having their ends connected between the lugs 403 and the ends of arms 406 in a mannor to exert a torsional bias on said arms in a direction; to urge the shelf downward to a position shown in .dot-;

dash lines in Fig. 14.

When the shelf405 is in operative position, it occupiesa substantially horizontal position as shown in full lines:

It is retained in this operative position byin Fig. 14. a pair of rearwardly projecting arms 409, carried respec tively by a pair of clamping members 410, pivotally mounted on the bracket 401, said arms being disposed in vertically aligned overlying relation to the shelf arms 406, when the parts are in vessel supporting relation as shown in Fig. 15, as will be presently explained. The.

Clamping members 410 as shown in Fig. 16 aregenerally arcuate in form and are designed to complementeach.

other to form therebetween a cavity for the reception of supported on the bracket for pivotal movement by pins:

414 mounted in rearwardly extending-lugs 415-416 s'e-. cured to the rear face of the bracket. 7 The re'ar termi The bracket 401 is slotted as at; 402 and on the rear face of the bracket there ispro;

.. the members 410 but such duplicatipnis not neeessar nal extremitiesof the upper and lower portionsof arms 412 and 409 are each resiliently urged apart by co l springs417 housed .withinteleseopic housing members 418 (see Fig. 17), the respective sections of. the housipg 418 being connected'in any desired manner to the inner faces of the rear extensions of the respective arms 409 and 412 The arms 409 are limited as to the distance they may be moved apart under the influence of springs 4:17, by a yoke member 419, having terminal portions 420. The yoke member 419 straddles the arms 409 and the terminal portions 420 thereof engage the external faces of said arms 409 to restrict the expansion thereof, to an amount such that the terminal portions of said arms 409 overlie in substantially vertical alignment the terminal portions of the shelf arms 406 when the apparatus is in vessel supporting position as shown in Figs. 14, 15 and 16. If desired, the terminal Portions 4 20 of the yoke member 419 may carry adjustable abutments in the form of set screws as shown which maybe locked in adjusted position by jam nuts to accurately position the arms 409 in alignment with the arms 406. It will he understood from this arrangement that the shelf 405 is retained in substantially horizontal vessel supporting" position by the engagement between the shelf arms 406 and the overlying arms 409 of the clamping members 410. The clamping members 410 are dimensioned with respect to a fire extinguisher vessel to be supported on the shelf 405 so that the vessel may be'frictionally. clamped thereby under the influence of the spring 417' and that when the clamping members are so'engaged With said vesselpthe arms 409 are in overlying align ment with the shelf arms 406. t

The clamping members 410 as shown in Fig. 16 only partially embrace the fire extinguisher vesse l 411 when the latter is supported on shelf 405 so that'in removing the vessel 411 from the shelf, the vessel 411 is pulled or crowded through the space 421 between the front terminal portions 422 of the clamping members, and this action tends to move the rear terminal portionsof :the arms 409 closer together against the force of the spring 417. This compressesthe spring 417 and collapses the telescopic sleeve sections 418 as the arms 409 move inwardly towards each other and out of vertical alignment with the shelf arms 406 with the result that the shelf: 405 drops by gravity, assisted by the torsion springs 408, to the inoperative position shown in dotted lines in, Fig. 14.

In order to retain the apparatus in such inoperative position and thus preclude replacing an exhausted fire; extinguisher vessel in the apparatus, means are provided: for releasably locking the arms 409m shelf releasing position and 'out of alignment with the shelf arms 406. A spring projected locking instrumentality 423' similar in all respects to that previously described and shown at- I 38 in Fig. 4, is mounted on the bracket arm 424, carricd' by the rear face of the bracket 401, and the spring projected bolt thereof is projected into apertures 425 and 4'26 provided in the telescopic sleeve sections 418 which apertures at this time are in registration. The apertures 425 and 426 are normally out of alignment (see Fig.

17) but are moved into alignment (see Fig. 18) when the clamping members 410 are expanded during with: d'rawal of the fire extinguisher vessel therefrom. In this; manner the clamping members 410 are locked in open or inoperative position, at which time the arms 409 carried thereby have moved toward one another to apo sitionout of alignment with the shelf arms 406iasshown. in Fig. 18. If desired, the upper pair vof arms 412 of the clamping members 4 10 may be provided witn a limiti ing yoke member 419 similar to that .shown in connection with arms 409, together with an expanding spring 417 and with a telescopic housing 418, since this. ar g rangement provides a more uniform clamping a'et' acesscb and the provision of a single set of such instrumentalities will suffice. 1

I have shown at 427 a combined signal light and switch similar .to that shown at 5052 in Fig. 1. This unit may be mounted on bracket 401 as shown in Figs. 14 and 15 ina position so that an arm 406 of the shelf, when the latter falls to the dot-dash line position as shown in Fig. 14, will engage the button of the switch to energize the signal light and alarm circuit as previously described in connection with the modification shown in Fig. ,1 and as shown diagrammatically in Fig. 6.

In Figs. 19 through 22, I show a further modification of my invention in which the fire extinguisher vessel supporting means includes a slidable shelf member. The bracket member 501 in this instance is provided with an offset portion 502 intermediate its ends that is deeper than the offset portion of the bracket members of the previously described modifications, and within this offset portion is slidably mounted a shelf member 503. To accommodate the shelf 503, the bracket is slotted at 504 andthe shelf 503 is arranged to slide fore and aft through this slot in operation, as shown. The shelf member 503 carries a rearwardly projecting hollow arm 505 generally rectangular in cross-section as shown, which extends through the slot 504 and is slidingly engaged within a tubular guide member 506 carried by the rear face of the bracket 501. To assist in supporting the weight of a fire extinguisher vessel 507 when placed on the shelf 503, I provide one or more auxiliary shelf supports 508 secured to the front face of the bracket in position to slidably engage the under face of the shelf as shown in Figs. 19 and 20. The shelf 503 is arranged to be moved rearwardly into an inoperative position under the influence of a biasing spring 509 housed within the hollow arm 505, which is closed at its rear end by a plate member 510. The plate 510 functions as a stop means in connection with the guide member 506, to define the forward or operative position of the shelf 503, when the latter is pulled forwardly to such position by a handle 511. The bottom of the shelf 512 is slotted as at 513, and said slot extends into the lower wall of the hollow arm 505, as shown at 514. An abutment finger and guide member 515 secured to the inner face of the bracket 501 extends into said slot as shown and provides a support for the forward end of the spring 509 and a guide for the arm 505. Under this arrangement when no fire extinguisher vessel is supported on the shelf, the spring 509 urges the shelf rearwardly until the forward end of slot 513 engages the abutment 515. At this time an aperture 516 in the upper wall of the hollow arm 505 is in registration with the spring plunger 517 of a locking device 518 carried by the guide member 506 as shown,

The locking device 518 is similar in all respects to that shown at 38 in Fig. 4. In rearward or inoperative position of the shelf, a beveled lower edge of the plate 510 of arm 505 engages the switch button of a combined switch and signal device 519 mounted on the bracket as shown to energize the signal and sound an alarm. Thus the shelf 503 is locked in an inoperative position in response to removal of a fire extinguisher vessel therefrom, and the signal circuit will be energized until the, shelf is restored to operative condition, by one authorized to do so.

It will be understood that the upstanding rim or edge 520 on the shelf 503, will maintain the fire extinguisher vessel in place on the shelf against the force of the spring 509, and if desired, an auxiliary vessel engaging clamp 521 may be provided on the bracket 501, in vertically spaced relation to the shelf 503.

From the foregoing, it is apparent that I have pro vided a novel apparatus which will support a portable for use when desired. When a fire extinguisher vessel supported in my apparatus is removed for use, said apparatus immediately and in response to the removal of such vessel, is automatically rendered inoperative to further support a fire extinguisher vessel in normal manner. This precludes the possibility of an unauthorized person or of some volunteer who has used the fire extinguisher, replacing it on the shelf in an exhausted or partially exhausted condition.

The locking means utilized to secure the apparatus in an inoperative position may be associated directly with the vessel supporting instrumentality as in the modifications shown in Figs. 11 to 19 or may be associated with an auxiliary member such as the arms 15 and 122 of Figs. 1 to 10. Furthermore, the vessel supporting instrumentality may be either a shelf or a hook and may be arranged to pivotally or slidingly move from operative to inoperative position in response to the removal of the fire extinguisher vessel from the apparatus.

Until the apparatus is reconditioned for use by someone in authority, signal means associated with the apparatus will give a continuing flashing red signal and/or, an audible signal, to indicate the location of the apparatus which has been used and needs reservicing.

While I have shown in the accompanying drawings and described in the foregoing specification preferred embodiments of my invention, it will be understood by those skilled in the art to which the invention relates that various changes may be made in the size and proportion of parts without departing from the spirit of the invention which is pointed out more particularly in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A supporting apparatus for a portable fire extinguisher vessel comprising a movable vessel supporting means, means movably mounting the vessel supporting means for movement to and from operative position, stop means engaged by said movable supporting means and defining the operative position of the vessel supporting means, spring biasing means operatively associated with said vessel supporting means and effective to move the same to inoperative position in response to the removal of a fire extinguisher vessel from said vessel supporting means, and manually releasable means operable in response to movement of said vessel supporting means to inoperative position to retain said vessel supporting means in such position, said last mentioned retaining means including a spring projected plunger member positioned to engage resiliently a part of the apparatus movable by the vessel supporting means when the latter moves to an inoperative position in response to the removal of a vessel therefrom, said part being provided with means adapted to interlock with said spring projected plunger and thereby restrain further movement of the vessel supporting means, separate compression spring means for projecting the plunger into locking engagement with the vessel supporting means and for retracting it from locking engagement therewith, and manually operable means for selectively loading one of said springs to override or to be overridden by the load on the other of said springs whereby selectively to project or to retract the plunger.

2. A supporting apparatus for a portable fire extinguisher vessel comprising a bracket, a vessel supporting hook member pivotally mounted on said bracket for movement about an axis substantially parallel to the face of the bracket, fixed stop means defining the operative position of the hook, spring biasing means operatively associated with said hook and effective to move the same to inoperative position in response to the removal of a fire extinguisher vessel from said hook, manually releasable means operable in response to movement of said vessel supporting hook to inoperative position under the influence of said biasing spring to retain the hook in inoperative position, said bracket member being provided with terminal portions and an intermediate outwardly all set portion, the intermediate outwardly offset portion being provided with a longitudinallyextending slot, said hook member being in the form of a substantially semicircular disk like member mounted on the rear face of the slotted portion of the bracket for rotation about a substantially horizontal axis with the vessel supporting portion of the hook extending forwardly through said slot.

3. The apparatus described in claim 2 wherein the means for retaining the hook member in an inoperative position includes a spring projected plunger member mounted on the rear face of the bracket member in position normally to engage a side face of the hook member rearwardly of the bracket member, said side face of said hook member being provided with a plunger receiving recess positioned to be engaged by said plunger When the hook member moves to inoperative position under the influence of its biasing spring.

4. The apparatus described in claim 3 wherein the plunger member is mounted within a casing for movement in a direction generally parallel to the axis of rotation of the hook member, and wherein oppositely tensioned spring members within the casing act upon an abutment collar carried by the plunger intermediate its ends, and wherein the manually operable means includes means for selectively rendering either of said springs effective to urge the plunger from the casing into said recess or to retract the plunger from said recess and within said casmg.

14 5. The apparatus described in claim 2 wherein a switch and signal unit is mounted on the bracket adjacent to said hook member, and wherein means are provided on' said hook member for operatively engaging the switch' and signal unit when the hook moves to inoperative position, to actuate the signal.

6. The apparatus described in claim 5 wherein the I switch and signal unit is mounted on the rear face of the bracket adjacent to said hook member, and wherein the means provided on the hook member for actuating the switch and signal unit comprises a lug carried by said hook member rearwardly of the slotted portion of the bracket, and-positioned to engage and actuate the switch and signal unit when the hook member is moved into its inoperative position under the influence of said biasing spring.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

